Machairodus

Skull of Machairodus giganteus

• Europe
• Asia
• Africa
• North America

Machairodus is a genus of extinct group of saber-toothed cats ( Machairodontinae ), which was widespread in the Miocene and Pliocene in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America with a number of species.

Appearance

Several species of genus Machairodus developed during its existence a number of diverse forms and features, but one thing was common to them all, namely, the jagged edges of their long saber -like canines, although these edges, wore out in a few years of life. Unlike other saber cats such as Smilodon Machairodus had relatively short fangs, but they were relatively longer than that of today's big cats. Some species of the genus were able to reach a weight of 220 kg. The shoulder height was approximately Marchairodus aphanistus at around one meter and at Machairodus coloradensis around 1.2 m.

Forms and development

Machairodus appeared for the first time probably in the middle Miocene about 15 million years ago in Eurasia and disappeared about two million years ago. Presumably he was the ancestor of the genus Homotherium that developed during the Pliocene. Several species of the genus Machairodus have been described, but it is not sure if all have validity. In general, two basic types are distinguished within the genus: A rather primitive type, such as Machairodus aphanistus, which is detected in many parts of Eurasia and has been described in North America under the synonym Nimravides catacopsis, as well as an advanced type of the Eurasian species Machairodus giganteus and similar North American species Machairodus coloradensis included. The former was characterized by a typical cat's body, in the latter lengthened forelimbs had emerged which now appeared more like a hyena in the structure, and the teeth were flattened stronger in these forms.